The Last Crescendo

    The story of my time away has yet to be told and that time is why I was unable to write about or have the greatest one-day card in boxing history involved in the boxing challenge.

I wanted to write something about the Last Crescendo event, so here are a few thoughts about the card.

Just like their first fight, I scored Dmitry Bivol's majority decision win over Artur Beterbiev even at 114-114 but unlike the first battle, if I was forced to choose a winner I would select Bivol this time.

I thought the second bout had a bit more action than the first and the practice flipped from the first fight with Beterbiev starting quickly and Bivol finishing stronger.

I'd like a third fight quickly to settle the series before the forty year old Beterbiev ages out of his prime but I am understanding of not wanting the division to go on hold to do so immediately.

I'm not sure to feel bad or not for heavyweight contender Martin Bakole, who took a huge paycheck to step in for the ill Daniel DuBois, days before the scheduled fight with Joseph Parker.

Parker knocked the out of shape Bakole out in two and cost Bakole his scheduled IBF eliminator against Efe Ajagba.

The money was substantial but the loss will send Bakole sliding though the ratings.

As for Parker, the former WBO champion continues his revitalization with his third straight impressive win and currently is the most deserving contender for a title match.

If Parker isn't the most deserving then the honor has to go to unbeaten German Agit Kayabel, who won his third bout in a row by knockout as a underdog, with his sixth round stoppage of Zhilei Zhang.

Kayabel was knocked down in round five before rising and finishing Zhang with a liver punch.

The best fight on the card was the first as former super middleweight champion Callum Smith outslugged previously unbeaten Joshua Buatsi to win a unanimous decision and slide into a possible mandatory challenger position for Dmitry Bivol's light heavyweight titles.

Smith was stopped by Artur Beterbiev in his title chance in 2024 and I doubt a rematch would be any different but judging by his win over Buatsi, he will deserve his chance.

Unbeaten junior middleweight Vergil Ortiz  earned the biggest victory of his career with a unanimous decision over slick former WBA champion Israil Madrimov.

Madrimov, as he did in his close loss to Terence Crawford, just doesn't throw enough punches against Ortiz was impressive in outworking Madrimov.

Ortiz might be the best 154 pounder in the world despite not owning a title belt.

Shakur Stevenson retained his WBC lightweight title when late replacement Josh Padley retired at the end of the ninth round.

Padley tried hard but was badly outclassed.

Hamzah Sheeraz was expected to be the next big thing in the middleweight division after recent triumphs of devastating proportions and was a strong favorite over WBC champion Carlos Adames.

Instead,it was Adames who fought sharply and should have won the decision (I scored Adames the winner 115-113)but settled for a draw and keeping his title.

Sheerez seemed a bit dull to me and with his size, Sheeraz might want to consider moving up to the super middleweight division.